Game apparatus.



J. T. SIMPSON.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILEP JAN-3.191].

1L ,%%7 ?3$ w I Patented Nov. 27, 1917.

iamwmm" Jenn rnonas snv rson, or NEWARK, new nnsnY.

GAME arranarrus.

, Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, Milt.

1 Application filed January 3, 1917. Serial No. 140,364.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN SrMrsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Newark, county of Essex,and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and use ful Game Apparatus, of which the followin is specification.

his invention relates to improvements in game apparatus and has forits object to produce an attractive and interesting game of skill to be played with simple and inexpensive apparatus by one or more persons.

These and further objects will more fully appear in the following specification and accompanying drawings considered together or separately.

I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings in which like parts are designated by similar reference characters.

In the drawings, V

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bat or racket with its ball attached.

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a view of an object ball.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a pedestal or T.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the same, and

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same with the object ball in position.

In carrying out my invention I provide a paddle, bat or racket 1 having a blade 2 and a handle 3. The racket may be made of any size, shape or'material, but is preferably made of laminated wood, the grain of the lamina crossing to produce strength and to prevent warping. The handle may be a continuation of the material of the blade and is preferably formed with a piece of wood or other suitable material glued or otherwise secured to each side of the extension.

In the blade I may provide an aperture a of any size or shape. Associated with the paddle is a ball 5. The ball 5 is composed of a light, elastic material such as soft rubber. It is of a size suificient to pass through the aperture in the blade and is attached to the blade by an elastic member 6. The elastic member is preferably a strand of soft rubber bare or covered as desired. The elastic member may be of any length clesired. The elastic member is preferably attached to the blade within the aperture 4 and as shown in the drawings is attached to that wall of the aperture nearest the handle by means of a screw eye 7. The classtic member is secured within the aperture so that either side of the blade may be used to propel the ball with equal facility.

In connection with the bat I employ an object ball 8 which, in playing the game, is to be struck by the ball 5 which is propelled by a blow from the bat. The ball 8 like the ball 5 may be, and preferably is, com posed of soft rubber so that the surface on which the game is played will not be injured by contact of the balls.

In connection with the ball 8 and to diversify scoring in the game I employ a pedestal 9. The pedestal has a base 10 and a cupped upper extremity 11 in which the object ball 8 may be seated. The base is covered with a yielding material such as cloth or soft rubber, and the rim of the cup 11 is likewise surrounded by a cushion 13.

The game may be played by any number of contestants each provided with a bat. The bat of each playermay be distinguished from that of each other player. The dis tinguishing marks may be of various forms. The shape of the aperture may be varied, a border 14 may be painted around the aperture, the borders may differ in color, the entire bat may be colored, or the bats may be numbered. The bats may be given different values, for example, the red is given the value of five, the white ten, the blue fifteen, and the green twenty.

In playing the game with four players for example, the bats are drawn by lot, the pedestal is set up in the center of a table or other convenient fiat surface and the object ball is placed in the cup 11. Each player may have a certain number of strokes driving his ball 5 at the pedestal. The player holding the green bat will lead followed by the blue, white and red in order.

In making the first stroke the player holds the play ball 5 in one hand and strikes it with the bat, similar to the game of tennis. The player endeavors to drive the play ball toward the pedestal in such a way as to strike the object ball and dislodge it from the cup without disturbing the pedestal. Should he succeed in so removing the object ball he will score a certain number of points, Should he dislodge the object ball.

by upsetting the pedestal he will score a less number of points. Should he miss the ball and pedestal and catch the ball, 'on its return by the elastic, 6, on the paddle and shoot it back at the object ball he may continue number as the case may be. When one player has exhausted his trials or scored he is followed by the other players in order. This may be continued until one player secures the number of scores agreed upon to win the game.

It is obvious that many different games may be played with the apparatus and that many different methods of scoring may be employed.

The bat may be of any size or shape and it may be apertured or not as desired.

The pedestal may be of any size or shape and instead of the cupped depression at its top it may be flat or any other shape.

The object 8 may be shaped other than spherical.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principle of my invention, together with-the apparatus which I now consider to represent thebest embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways.

Having now described my invention what its return pass the aperture,

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A game apparatus, comprising a bat or paddle with an aperture therethrough, an elastic ball of a size sufi'icient to pass through the aperture, a member connecting the ball to the bat whereby the ball may pass through an object at which the ball may be driven by thebat, and a movable support for the object, said support being movable by contact of the ball. r

2. A game apparatus, comprising a bat or paddle with an aperture therethrough, an

elastic ball of a size suflicient to pass through the aperture, an elastic member connecting the ball to the bat whereby the ball may pass through the aperture,fan object at which the ball may be driven' by the bat, and a movable support for the object.

3. A game apparatus, comprising a bat or paddle with an aperture therethrough, an elastic ball of a size suificient to pass through the aperture, an elastic member connecting the ball to the bat whereby the ball may pass through the aperture, an object at which the ball may be'driven by the bat, and g a movable support for the obje'ct,'said support being movable by contact of the ball, there being a depression in the support in which the object rests. I V This specification signed and witnessed this thirtieth day of December, 1916.

JOHN THOMASSIMPSON. Witnesses:

CLARK REYNOLDS, FRANK L. RUSBY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

, Washington, D. G. 

